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Water Resources Advisory Committee Archive

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The following is an archive of past WRAC meeeings.

2019 Meetings

December 9

Agenda
Outcome of the 2019 Agency Policy Review - Water Resources
- Water rights and dam safety policies and procedures
Revised water right applications - Presentation
Chapter 173-501 WAC, Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 1 CR-102 Draft Rule comment and public hearings
Streamflow restoration competitive grants
Water Banking
- Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - Evans School of Public Policy and Governance - University of Washington
- Water Bank Questions - Discussion questions
- Strategic Planning: Water Banking in WA - presentation
- Water banking in Washington
Walla Walla Water 2050 water management plan - Ecology and the Walla Walla Water Management Partnership are embarking on a 30-year strategic planning process to refocus efforts to meet the region’s water needs.

November 12 (Tuesday) - Meeting canceled

October 14

Agenda - see agenda for WebEx login and call-in information
Chamokane Creek - October 17, 2019 open house to answer questions from the community
Water Bank Questions - Discussion questions
Strategic Planning: Water Banking in WA - presentation
- Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - June 2019
- Water banking in Washington

September 9

Agenda
Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - June 2019
Water banking in Washington
Streamflow Restoration Program Status - July 2019
POL-2030 2003 Municipal Water Law Interpretive and Plolicy Statement
POL-2050 Water Resources Program Policy Regarding Reservations of Water for Future Uses from the John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River 08/01/2019
Statewide conditions/Drought in Washington 2019

August 12 meeting canceled. Next meeting is September 9.

July 8 - Call-in Only

Agenda

In February 2019, Water Resources proposed changes to Policies 1060 and 1200. We heard from many of you who had concerns with our draft policy changes. We carefully considered the concerns raised and in response, we are proposing a newly revised version of Policy 1060. We are no longer proposing changes to Policy 1200
- Our proposed revision of POL 1060 is available here. We will discuss the draft at the July 8 WRAC meeting.
- We would like your feedback on the proposed policy. Please send comments to Carrie Sessions by July 26 at 5 PM: (carrie.sessions@ecy.wa.gov, 360-407-6094).
Protecting orcas from extintion - Ecology web page

June 10

Agenda
- Join by phone: 1-855-929-3239 Access Code 802 767 155 #
- Join the meeting from your computer to view presentations.
DRAFT Water Resources Program Policy Regarding Reservations of Water for Future Uses from the John Day-McNary Pools Reach of the Columbia River - link removed 08/02/2019
- John Day McNary Pool Reservations - Presentation by Ben Carr, OCR
- Ecology's response to CSRIA petition to amend Chapter 173-531A WAC - Dec.13, 2018
- John Day/McNary Pool reservations - Permit process
- If you have any questions please contact Ben Carr at 509-457-7112 or Melissa Downes, Policy Lead, 509-454-4259.
Drought in Washington 2019
- Water resources drought response grants
- Emergency rule - WAC 173-167
Chamokane Creek - settlement agreement
Yakima River Basin Adjudication - finalized

May 13

Agenda
Water Banking and Water Marketing in Select Western States - Evans School of Public Policy and Governance - University of Washington
Grant Funding Rule – we expect to adopt the rule in early June, it would become effective in early July
WRIA 1 (Nooksack) preliminary rulemaking documents – Comments due May 10
Draft Final NEB Guidance – Comments due June 7
Draft Streamflow Restoration Policy – Comments due June 7

April 8

Agenda
Drought in Washington 2019 - Drought declaration
- Water supply update - Apr. 8, 2019
Chapter 173-501 WAC - Instream Resources Protection Program - Nooksack Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA)
- We’ve developed preliminary draft language for the rule amendment and a rule supporting document for Chapter 173-501 WAC:
  - Preliminary Draft Rule Language – Amendment to Chapter 173-501 WAC
  - Preliminary Draft Rule Supporting Document – Amendment to Chapter 173-501 WAC

March 11

Agenda
Cultivating interstate conversation and collaboration: April 2018 Ogalla Summit - presentation by Amy Kremen, Colorado State University
Statewide conditions - latest information about water supply in the state
Policy update - We are proposing draft changes to two policies. The goal of the revisions is to clarify how the program treats permits that have been put to full beneficial use, but not yet certified, and to update the policies to reflect current law. The current version of each policy is available in the links below along with the revised versions for comparison. Please note:
- We have almost completely rewritten POL 1060; therefore, specific changes are not highlighted.
- We added specific language to POL 1200, which is indicated in blue text. We did not change the remainder of the policy.
  - POL 1060 Recision and Relinquishment
    - Revised version - draft for review and comment
  - POL 1200 Policy for the Evaluation of Changes or Transfers to Water Rights
    - Revised version - draft for review and comment
- We would like your feedback on the proposed changes. Please send comments to Carrie Sessions by Apr. 26 at 5 PM: (carrie.sessions@ecy.wa.gov, 360 407 6094).
Streamflow Restoration Planning - page to track the committees, plans and rule process
- Streamflow Restoration - program update presentation
Water Resource Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
Drought Preparedness bill:
- HB 1622
- SB 5675

February 11- Meeting Canceled "Snowmageddon"

January 14

Agenda
Streamflow Restoration Planning - new page to track the committees, plans and rule process
Water Resource Mitigation, Joint Legislative Task Force
Washington SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal
Presentations:
- Potential Acquavella closeout timelines
- Streamflow Restoration - Implemetation Update

2018

December 10

Agenda
Presentations:
- Water Supply Update - Jeff Marti
- Sreamflow Restoration - Implemetation update - Bennett Weinstein
Streamflow Restoration under Chapter 90.94 RCW Progress on Implementation - Focus sheet
Streamflow Restoration Planning - new page to track the committees
Agency-request legislation

November 13

Agenda
State Water Plans Monographs from 17 States - Created by: AWRA Policy Technical Committee

October 8

Agenda
Streamflow Restoration - Update
Office of Columbia River - DRAFT Focus on: Water Supp;y Development Funding
Dam Safety - A tale of two dams Joe Witzcak Ecology WRP-DSO
We have launched a grant program for Streamflow Restoration implementation projects. This first round of grants will focus on projects that improve streamflows and instream resources. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. Oct. 31, 2018
Ecology has developed preliminary draft rule language for Chapter 173-566 WAC – Streamflow Restoration Funding. To gather input from interested parties and the public, we have posted the preliminary draft rule language on our website. The preliminary draft rule language will be discussed at the upcoming public workshops we are holding around the state in October. The comment period for the preliminary draft rule language will close on Oct. 28, 2018.
You can comment three ways:
- Online via eComments
- Email comments to: inman@ecy.wa.gov, or
- Mail comments to:
  - Rebecca Inman
  - Dept. of Ecology
  - PO Box 47600
  - Olympia WA 98504-7600
- If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca Inman at (360) 407-6450 or rebecca.inman@ecy.wa.gov.
The Water Resources Program is pursuing approval for request legislation on drought and on well construction and licensing. These proposals are still draft versions and are pending approval from the Governor’s Office.
Drought: